Container for holding small items

ABSTRACT

A package is provided for housing one or more product items, including a lid ( 20 ) with peripheral walls ( 24 ) snugly fitting to peripherals walls ( 44 ) of a molded housing ( 40 ). The walls of the molded housing may flex to improve the sealing of the package. An internal liner ( 70 ) may be provided for added product freshness. A display aperture ( 63 ) may be provided in the housing for viewing the product items without opening the package.

This non-provisional application relies on the filing date of provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/091,855 filed on Aug. 26, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference, having been filed within twelve (12) months thereof, and priority thereto is claimed under 35 USC §1.19(e).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a closable storage container for holding small items, and more particularly, to a container adapted to closely hold a nestable sealed packet, with the container closed by a tightly fitting lid.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of closable storage containers or packages are in use at the present time to hold consumer product items such as smokeless tobacco, breath mints, medication, throat lozenges, candy, and the like. One form of package is a formed metal “tin” comprising a bottom enclosure and a tightly fitting lid. Such a package may be expensive to make, and may not provide a perfectly air-tight seal. Furthermore the metal construction does not provide any view of the contents of the “tin.”

SUMMARY

It is an object of the subject disclosure to provide a package or container for holding small product items that is easy to manufacture, provides excellent sealing to retain product freshness, and allows the consumer to see what is inside the unopened container.

The present disclosure is directed to a package for holding product items including a top or lid with a close fit to a bottom or housing. In some embodiments, the housing is adapted to receive and retain a container liner. In some embodiments the container liner is at least partly transparent. In some embodiments the housing comprises a display aperture which allows the contents to be seen even when the lid is closed upon the housing. Variations of the illustrative embodiment, including variations in the shape of the lid, housing, or liner, or the shape, size and location of any aperture, are also within the contemplation of the present invention and are further described below.

It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented and utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, and a method for applications and from other suitable materials now known and later developed. These and other unique features of the system disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed system appertains will more readily understand how to make and use the same, reference may be had to the following drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a container for holding product items, comprising a metal housing and a metal lid;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container comprising a plastic housing and a metal lid;

FIG. 3 is a cross section detail of a fit between the plastic housing and metal lid;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another container comprising a plastic housing and a metal lid;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a housing and an insertable liner;

FIG. 5B is a side elevation view of the housing and liner of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a cross section detail of portions of housing and liner of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D is a cross section detail of the same portions of housing and liner shown in FIG. 5C, joined together as an assembly; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are bottom perspective views of containers having a display aperture in the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention overcomes many of the prior art problems associated with all-metal “tins” for holding small product items. The advantages, and other features of the package disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings which set forth representative embodiments of the present invention and wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elements whenever possible.

All relative descriptions herein such as left, right, up, down, topside, underside and the like are with reference to the Figures, and not meant in a limiting sense. Smokeless tobacco pouches are used as exemplary contents of the package. The illustrated embodiments can be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of certain embodiments, and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components, modules, elements, and/or aspects of the illustrations can be otherwise combined, interconnected, sequenced, separated, interchanged, positioned, and/or rearranged without materially departing from the disclosed systems or methods. Additionally, the shapes and sizes of components are also exemplary and unless otherwise specified, can be altered without materially affecting or limiting the disclosed technology to holding tobacco products.

The package comprises a top or lid and a housing or bottom. FIGS. 1A and 1B show, in closed and open configuration respectively, a prior art container 10 that for product items such as tobacco pouches 1. Container 10 comprises a lid 20 and housing 30, both being metal. Lid 20 typically has a tight friction fit onto housing 30. Lid 20 may have a slightly rounded or domed top, main surface 22. Lid walls 24 are substantially vertical and fit closely around and over housing upper walls 34, also substantially vertical. The housing may have a circumferential ledge 32 that stops the lid walls 24 from being pressed too far down over housing upper walls 34, which might otherwise make it difficult to reopen the container. Instead of circumferential ledge 32, there may be a circumferential ridge around housing 30. Below the circumferential ledge 32 there may extend a housing lower wall 31.

FIG. 2 shows a novel container 11, which may comprise the same lid 20, but a different housing such as molded plastic housing 40 that may be made, for example, by injection molding. Plastic housing 40 may have a floor 45 and sides comprising a lower wall 41 extending upward to circumferential ledge 42 and continuing upward as housing upper wall 44. The lid walls 24 may fit around and over housing upper wall 44. Circumferential ledge 42 may provide an abutment stop to prevent lid walls 24 from being pressed too far down over housing upper walls 44, which might otherwise make it difficult to reopen the container. Instead of circumferential ledge 42, there may be a circumferential ridge (not shown) around housing 40. While being described as “circumferential” it will be understood that the ledge or ridge may be discontinuous and may not extended entirely around the housing. To help retain lid 20 on housing 40, one or more detents 46 may be provided on the outer surface of housing upper wall 44. Housing 40 may comprise a top flange 48 at the top surface of housing upper wall 44. In some embodiments, product contents within the container may be sealed for freshness or safety, for example by sealing a foil or film (not shown) onto top flange 48.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of lid wall 24 engaging housing upper wall 44. The lower end of lid wall 24 may have an inwardly directed edge such as inward rolled edge 25. Upon pressing the lid onto the housing, the inward rolled edge 25 rides over detent 46 which engages the inwardly directed edge and helps hold the lid on the housing. The lower end of lid wall 24 may then be supported from below by circumferential ledge 42, and held from above by one or more detents 46. To aid in removing the lid, the consumer may press inwardly (as denoted by arrow “A”) upon housing lower wall 41, causing the housing wall to flex inward and increasing the clearance between detent 46 and inward rolled edge 25 so that the lid may be lifted off the housing.

FIG. 4 shows another novel container 12, which may comprise the same lid 20, but a different housing such as molded plastic housing 50. Plastic housing 50 may have a floor 55 and sides comprising a lower wall 51 extending upward to circumferential ledge 52 and continuing upward as housing upper wall 54. The lid walls 24 may fit around and over housing upper wall 54. Circumferential ledge 52 may provide an abutment stop to prevent lid walls 24 from being pressed too far down over housing upper walls 54, which might otherwise make it difficult to reopen the container. Instead of circumferential ledge 52, there may be a circumferential ridge (not shown) around housing 50. While being described as “circumferential” it will be understood that the ledge or ridge may be discontinuous and may not extended entirely around the housing. To help retain lid 20 on housing 50, one or more detents 56 may be provided on the outer surface of housing upper wall 54. One or more of detents 56 may be provided upon more flexible portions of the housing, for example on leaf 57. The periphery of leaf 57 may be partially separated from housing 50. For example the periphery of leaf 57 may define an opening through housing upper wall 54. However, leaf 57 may also be provided without an opening through housing upper wall 54, for example as a thin, plate-like protrusion molded into or onto housing 50.

Housing 50 may comprise a top flange 58 at the top surface of housing upper wall 54. In some embodiments, product contents within the container may be sealed for freshness or safety, for example by sealing a foil or film (not shown) onto top flange 58. If the container is sealed in this fashion, then to preserve the effectiveness of the seal, leaf 57 may preferably be provided without defining an opening through housing upper wall 54.

In order to help ensure freshness of product items, and to facilitate packaging operation, product items inside the container may be packaged within a liner. FIG. 5A shows a liner, such as tub 70 that may be inserted into housing 60 and then sealed with overseal 80. Housing 60 is in certain aspects similar to housings 40 and 50, and a description of the component parts will not be repeated. Housing floor 65 may be provided with an opening such as display window 63, by which product contents may be seen through tub floor 75, provided tub 70 is made of a transparent material.

Tub 70 may be formed with tub flange 78, and tub retaining projections 79 that engagingly fit complementary indentations on the inside of housing 60. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, tub retaining projection 79 may snap-fit into the housing, for example into a recess such as overhanging ledge 69 inside the housing. Such engagement features may securely retain the tub and help protect its contents. As an alternative (not shown), a projection inside the housing may fit into an indentation in the tub.

FIG. 5B shows a front elevation view of tub 70 aligned over housing 60. FIG. 5C shows detail cross sections of the tub showing tub flange 78 and tub retaining projection 79, along with housing top flange 68 and housing overhanging ledge 69. Overhanging ledge 69 may be formed in various shapes and locations. In the example of FIG. 5C, overhanging ledge 69 may be the inside of circumferential ledge 62. When the tub 70 is inserted in to housing 60, tub retaining projection 79 engages overhanging ledge 69 to hold the tub securely in the housing. Tub flange 78 may rest loose upon housing top flange 68, or it may be sealed thereto. An overseal 80 may be sealed onto the top of tub flange 78, preferably right after filling the tub with product items.

Tub 70 may be made of vacuum-formed plastic and overseal 80 may be made of foil; both materials may be chosen to provide barrier properties (such as moisture or oxygen barrier properties) and sufficient structural strength. The items may include such products as smokeless tobacco pouches, tea bags, breath mints, medication, throat lozenges, candy, chewing gum, and the like.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show containers where products such as tobacco pouches 1 or breath mints 2 may be seen through display window 63 (on the bottom of housing 60 as seen in FIG. 5A). These products will be visible provided the tub floor 75 is transparent. Thus it is possible to determine how much of the contents remain, without opening the container. However, the tub may be made of non-transparent material. In any case the tub could be used in a housing with or without a display window.

The new container provides a lid 20 that fits snugly on housing 30 or other housings shown herein. In certain embodiments the side walls of the housing may be designed to engage the lid with a flexing action so that the side walls must be squeezed in order to release the lid. A plastic housing may more readily provide such flexing action than a metal housing. Furthermore, the snug flex fit may be designed to create a “popping” noise when the lid is removed.

The lid and housing as described herein are particularly suitable for forming a package sized as is common for a tobacco, medication, or candy container, that is, a substantially rectangular package sized to be held conveniently in the hand. Other sizes and shapes of container may be produced according to same principles. For example, an elongated container might be made which may be more useful for holding pencils, candy sticks, drinking straws, or cigars. An oval-shaped container might be made which may be considered more fashionable and used for holding cosmetics, for example.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 

1. A package comprising: i) A metal lid, comprising a lid face portion bounded by a lid peripheral wall; ii) a plastic housing, comprising a base portion bounded by a housing peripheral wall with a top flange; wherein the lid peripheral wall closely fits around the housing peripheral wall with a friction or interference fit.
 2. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing peripheral wall flexes inward with respect to the lid peripheral wall when the package is closed.
 3. The package as recited in claim 2, wherein in a closed configuration, said housing peripheral wall, when flexed inward, moves away said lid peripheral wall and allows said lid to be removed.
 4. The package as recited in claim 1, further comprising a sealing membrane, wherein the sealing membrane is sealed to the top flange.
 5. The package as recited in claim 1, further comprising an insertable liner.
 6. The package as recited in claim 5, wherein said insertable liner comprises a vacuum formed tub and a liner seal.
 7. The package as recited in claim 5, wherein said insertable liner comprises a external engagement feature shaped to engage a complementary internal engagement feature inside said housing.
 8. The package as recited in claim 5, further comprising a display aperture in the housing base portion.
 9. The package as recited in claim 8, wherein said tub is transparent and said items within said tub are visible through said display aperture.
 10. The package as recited in claim 2, further comprising a leaf formed in said housing peripheral wall and engaging means formed on said leaf for engaging said lid peripheral wall, said leaf being connected to said housing peripheral wall for inward movement when pressed, such inward movement releasing said engagement means from engagement with said lid peripheral wall to facilitate removal of said lid from the package. 